The Kia Soul EV arrives in 2014?

03/06/2013

The upcoming Korean automaker Kia should launch its first series electric car next year. It will rely on a well-known base, the Soul that will be updated/facelifted in the same time.

After the Optima Hybrid available in U.S. and European (more frugal) versions the launch of an electric version of its popular MPV, the Kia Soul seems imminent. The newcomer should land in showrooms next year. This is the second electric car designed by Kia after the Ray EV a demonstrator tested by the South Korean government in a fleet.

"The all-new Kia Soul will be available in electric version in Europe." Benny Oeyen, president of marketing for Kia Europe.

Unlike the Ray, the Soul EV will address international markets and will be updated to face the competition: less than 10 seconds to reach 100kph against more than 15sec for the Ray and a higher maximum speed reaching 140kph. As announced by the Renault Zoe, it should be able to travel 200 kilometers on a single charge.

The information has not been confirmed by Kia, but the Soul EV could use the Ray’s "brake" mode that allows the driver to increase the amount energy recovered by regenerative braking.

Soul EV is expected at a price around $ 35,000 (€ 29,000), it will be released first in Korea and then in the rest of the world. Its competitors, compact electric cars such as the Renault Zoé, the Spark EV, Fiat 500e...